Financial Aid

Below are links to download forms and documents you may need as you go through the financial aid process.

Financial Aid Guide 2025 - 2026 

Financial Aid Guide 2024 - 2025

Request Form

Financial Aid - Summer 2025 Request Form

Loan Cancellation or Reduction

This form is for students needing to cancel or reduce a Stafford, Grad PLUS, Parent PLUS or alternative loan credited to their tuition account.

Loan Cancellation or Reduction Form

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form

Students who have had their financial aid suspended due to unsatisfactory academic progress may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid by submitting the appeals form within 30 days of notification of unsatisfactory status and must be accompanied by relevant documentation.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form

Financial Aid Permission to Release Information Form

Your student may provide you with written permission to access his/her financial aid records by submitting the following form as provided by the USD Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid Permission to Release Information Form

Special Circumstances

Complete this form if you, your spouse or your parents have had a loss of income, divorce, extreme medical expenses or other circumstances that affect your financial situation.

Special Circumstance Request Form

To receive financial aid from federal programs you must meet all of the following requirements.

• You must be a U. S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen, a national or permanent resident of the U.S. or in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose.
• You must be registered with Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25.
• You must have a valid Social Security Number.
• You may not be in default on a federal student loan.
• You must not owe an overpayment of a federal loan or grant.
• You may not have borrowed in excess of aggregate student loan limits.
• You must be admitted to USD in a qualified degree program and registered at least half-time. Certificate programs are not aid eligible.
• You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by USD.

Note: Incarcerated students are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. Read more about Federal Student Aid for Incarcerated Individuals on the Federal Student Aid web site.

The U.S. Department of Education selects approximately one in three students for verification of the information provided on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In limited situations, USD may also select students for verification of FAFSA information.

The South Dakota Enrollment Services Center (ESC) will send an email containing a link for the appropriate verification forms to all USD students selected for verification. Students should promptly complete and return the completed forms with the required documentation. Incomplete verification forms will be returned to the student for completion. Unless otherwise instructed, the verification forms should be returned to the Enrollment Services Center. If additional information is required, the student will receive further communication from ESC. If you have questions regarding the verification process or required documentation, you can contact the Financial Aid Office at 605-658-6250. Financial aid eligibility cannot be determined until the verification process has been completed.

You can also access the verification forms by logging into your self service:

• Select University of South Dakota as the campus
• Select the Financial Aid Status option
• Select the correct awarding year
• Click on the unsatisfied student requirements link
• Click on the link for each of your unsatisfied requirements to be directed to the required form

Once the verification documentation has been received, it will be compared to data elements on the student’s FAFSA. If the information on the FAFSA matches the documentation provided, then no changes to the FAFSA are required, and USD will award financial aid based on the original FAFSA results.

If the verification process results in corrections to any data elements on the FAFSA, the Enrollment Services Center will submit those changes electronically. Both the student and USD will be notified of the reprocessed FAFSA results. In this situation, USD will award financial aid based on the reprocessed FAFSA results.

If you make corrections to your aid record and are selected for verification after aid has already been awarded or disbursed to you, adjustments to the already awarded or disbursed aid may be necessary. USD’s Financial Aid Office will notify the student of the adjustment with a revised Award Letter.

If verification reveals that your aid eligibility has changed, it may be necessary to adjust aid already disbursed to you. Failure to repay aid funds for which you have been determined ineligible will make you ineligible for further Federal Student Aid at any institution until the aid is repaid in full. Unresolved refunds and/or fraud verification cases may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education for collection purposes and to document ineligibility for future student aid.

There are a variety of federal resources and programs available to help you understand your financial aid options and pay for college. Explore the resources available to you below.

U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers and coordinates most federal assistance to education.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Federal FSA ID
• Managing the Price of College Handbook
• Teacher Forgiveness

Education Tax Incentives

Review Internal Revenue Service information for families who are either saving for college or paying/repaying student loans.

Voter Registration - South Dakota Residents

As a part of the Higher Education Act of 1998, Congress directed schools receiving Federal financial aid to assist students who have not yet registered to vote.

Selective Service Registration

Register for selective service online.

Veterans' Services

Learn about the GI Bill and other benefit programs for veterans at USD.

Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university can review policies regarding returned funding or information about how to receive refunds below. 

• Withdrawals & Refunds Process

If you currently receive federal financial aid, you may be able to apply your aid to an approved study abroad program.

If you are not currently receiving federal financial aid but believe you may need assistance to fund your study abroad program, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. We recommend completing your FAFSA in March prior to the academic year you plan to study abroad.

Students who plan to use financial aid during their program abroad must meet with the Financial Aid Office to go over eligibility. Plan ahead. You should allow at least 4-6 weeks for financial aid processing.

Can I receive additional financial aid to help with my expenses?

A student's cost of attendance may be adjusted to accommodate the following costs associated with an approved study abroad program:

• Tuition and Fees
• Room and Board
• Books and Supplies
• Transportation expenses
• Personal expenses
• Insurance/visa costs

Increased cost of attendance may allow students to apply for additional loan assistance in the form of Parent PLUS loans or Alternative Loans. Additional applications are required for these aid programs. Please contact Financial Aid for further information.

Will my USD Scholarships apply to my study abroad program?

USD Scholarships may be applied to some Study Abroad programs. Please see the Gallagher Center for Experiential Learning and Education Abroad (GC) or the Financial Aid office regarding those specific programs.

Students who currently receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship may need to apply for an exemption request. Please contact the Financial Aid office for further information.

Other considerations

If you anticipate receiving a financial aid refund while abroad, be sure to sign up for Direct Deposit to your checking account via Self Service. Renewable scholarships do require your study abroad credits to be applied to your academic record before renewal eligibility can be determined. For further information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 605-658-6250.

Regardless of whether or not a student has or will receive financial aid, federal regulations require USD to establish and implement a policy to measure if a student is making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Review USD's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Learn More About USD's Policy